Today is day 6 of our stay here at City of Hope and I am happy to say that everything is going better than expected! Thank you for all of your prayers! Please keep them coming!
William finished his chemotherapy early yesterday, so far there has been minimal side effects. Actually, the only side effect that William has experienced thus far is a loss of appetite and ever changing emotions (from the steroids)
One of the biggest concerns we had with the new chemotherapy was bladder damage and bleeding. Ifosfamide, one of the chemo drugs he is receiving is notorious for causing extreme bladder problems, and because of William's hemorrhagic cystitis caused by the first round of chemo in April 2010, Dr. Anderson has been monitoring William's urine, hydration, and platelet counts very closely. William has also been receiving Mesna several time a day. If William's urine analysis from this morning looks as good as it has been for the past week, we will be able to go home (to LB)
Tomorrow we will start our 10 to 14 day process of giving William daily shots of Neupogen. Click here for information. The neupogen will push the stem cells out of the bone marrow and into the blood stream so that we can collect the stem cells and "rescue" them. There is a specific window of opportunity during which the Dr. will be able to rescue the ideal and best stem cells, therefore close monitoring is required and we will be doing several visits to the hospital during the week.
As with most drugs related to treating cancer, Neupogen has some extreme side effects of which the worst is extreme bone pains and aches. The bone pain is a sign that the bone marrow is "revving" up (working overtime) to produce those much needed cells. Please pray that the pain is tolerable and that William's body is strong enough to make all of the necessary cells needed to make the stem cell rescue a success!!! Please pray that God gives Sir. William the courage, calm emotions and strength to make it thought the next 10 to 14 days of daily injections.
Along with all the other prayer requests listed, please keep Randell and my my dad in your prayers. The two men are both at home, alone, working hard to support us! It is important to remember that the journey we are on is not just one about William's treatment and healing but, it is also a journey for our entire family entailing strength, commitment, faith, love and determination!
Happy Mother's Day.
Keep on Keepin on.
Live Strong in God's miracle of healing!